Welcome to the Ice Princess's Parent Talk blog!
This blog will focus on baby / toddler parenting tips and product reviews.
I am the proud parent of a son who was a preemie. He was born at 31 weeks. His early arrival was a complete surprise. I had been to the doctor in the afternoon for a checkup. That night, my water broke. Spent the next 2 days hooked up to magnesium to stop the contractions, so that I could receive several steroid shots to help my son's lungs develop. I came off the magnesium and that night the contractions resumed. 4 1/2 hours later my son was born, healthy, but small. 5 weeks in the NICU and then he came home. Today he is a very happy, active 2 year old.
2 books which are a must read if you are the parent of a preemie:
The Preemie Parents' Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years
and
Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies
.
Do all the reading you can. It is very important to be well informed. Preemies are not like regular newborns. Their immune system is very weak, as the last trimester is when they receive antibodies from the mother to prepare them for life outside the womb. It is very important to always wash your hands before touching a preemie. They need to be isolated from other people for at least the first 4 - 6 months, especially if born during cold and flu season, which was when my son was born. This is when all sorts of illnesses occur, including RSV, which a preemie is susceptible to until the age of 2. In a normal person, RSV is just a cold, but to a preemie it is deadly. People don't understand that and will not hesitate to offer all sorts of criticism for keeping the preemie in isolation. Don't be afraid to tell them where to go. Keeping a preemie healthy, so that it can grow stronger without setbacks is what is important.
Keeping my son in isolation for me, was a really nice break. We spent the winter bonding, learning, growing. It was tough at times, but was the best thing for him.
One tip is to give lots and lots and lots of affection. To help a preemie grow, the sense of touch does wonders. Massage and Kangaroo Care are techniques many use. I didn't really use it though. Just lots of hugs and holdings and back rubs. Remember, you can't spoil a preemie. Spoil prevention is another topic, several months down the road.
This blog will focus on baby / toddler parenting tips and product reviews.
I am the proud parent of a son who was a preemie. He was born at 31 weeks. His early arrival was a complete surprise. I had been to the doctor in the afternoon for a checkup. That night, my water broke. Spent the next 2 days hooked up to magnesium to stop the contractions, so that I could receive several steroid shots to help my son's lungs develop. I came off the magnesium and that night the contractions resumed. 4 1/2 hours later my son was born, healthy, but small. 5 weeks in the NICU and then he came home. Today he is a very happy, active 2 year old.
2 books which are a must read if you are the parent of a preemie:
The Preemie Parents' Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years
and
Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies
.Do all the reading you can. It is very important to be well informed. Preemies are not like regular newborns. Their immune system is very weak, as the last trimester is when they receive antibodies from the mother to prepare them for life outside the womb. It is very important to always wash your hands before touching a preemie. They need to be isolated from other people for at least the first 4 - 6 months, especially if born during cold and flu season, which was when my son was born. This is when all sorts of illnesses occur, including RSV, which a preemie is susceptible to until the age of 2. In a normal person, RSV is just a cold, but to a preemie it is deadly. People don't understand that and will not hesitate to offer all sorts of criticism for keeping the preemie in isolation. Don't be afraid to tell them where to go. Keeping a preemie healthy, so that it can grow stronger without setbacks is what is important.
Keeping my son in isolation for me, was a really nice break. We spent the winter bonding, learning, growing. It was tough at times, but was the best thing for him.
One tip is to give lots and lots and lots of affection. To help a preemie grow, the sense of touch does wonders. Massage and Kangaroo Care are techniques many use. I didn't really use it though. Just lots of hugs and holdings and back rubs. Remember, you can't spoil a preemie. Spoil prevention is another topic, several months down the road.
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